Why Can't I Follow People on TikTok?

Ever wondered, ‘Why can’t I follow anyone on TikTok ? If you’re suddenly unable to follow users on TikTok, there are several possible reasons.

Why can’t I follow anyone on TikTok: Main Reasons and Solutions

TikTok has strict rules to prevent spam behavior, which might be restricting your ability to follow new accounts. TikTok may prevent you from following someone if you’ve hit your daily or total follow limit.

Other possible reasons include a temporary platform outage, app glitches, issues with your VPN, a corrupted cache, an outdated app version, or the need for a reinstall.

Let’s explore the most common causes and how to fix them.

You’ve Hit Your Maximum Following Limit

The main reason TikTok won’t let you follow anyone could be that you’ve hit the platform’s overall following limit. As of 2025, TikTok’s follow limit remains 10,000 accounts overall. The daily safe limit is estimated to be around 140-200 accounts. If you reach this limit, you’ll need to unfollow inactive or unengaging accounts before following new ones.

Take this as an opportunity to clean up your following list by removing accounts you no longer engage with or that post content that no longer interests you. If you’re looking to grow your audience, consider boosting your engagement with TikTok followers to enhance your visibility and reach more people.

Error Message: Following Too Fast

If you get a “Following too fast” error message, it’s likely you can’t follow anyone because you’ve been following too many accounts too quickly. TikTok monitors spam-like activities and temporarily restricts excessive following.

This restriction can last up to 24 hours. Users report that following 140-200 accounts daily is safe. To avoid getting flagged, try following in smaller batches (10-12 accounts per hour) and avoid repeatedly following and unfollowing the same account.

TikTok May Be Down or Facing Issues

If TikTok is experiencing technical difficulties, you may be unable to follow anyone. Check sites like Downdetector or Twitter (X) for real-time outage reports. If TikTok is down, wait until it’s back online to try following people again.

Cache Files Issues on TikTok

Sometimes, app glitches cause issues with following users. Clearing TikTok’s cache may resolve the problem:

On iPhone and Android: Go to Settings > Apps > TikTok > Storage > Clear Cache.
On Android (System Cache): Restart your phone after clearing the cache for a full refresh.

Your TikTok App Isn’t Updated

An outdated TikTok app can cause bugs, including issues with following users. Check your app store for updates and install the latest version of TikTok to fix any potential software problems.

Internet Connection & Device Issues

Poor internet connectivity may prevent TikTok from processing your follow requests. Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection before trying again.

If your internet connection is unstable, switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data (or vice versa) may help. Sometimes, Wi-Fi networks can have restrictions that interfere with TikTok’s functionality. Try turning off Wi-Fi and using mobile data to see if the issue resolves.

Check the VPN on Your Phone

A VPN can sometimes interfere with TikTok’s functionality. To disable your VPN:

iPhone: Go to Settings > VPN and toggle it off.
Android: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN and disable it.

Uninstall and Reinstall TikTok on Your Smartphone

If all else fails, uninstalling and reinstalling TikTok can fix persistent issues. This clears any corrupted data that may be causing problems.

Try Using the TikTok Web App

If the mobile app isn’t working, try accessing TikTok through a web browser at www.tiktok.com and attempt to follow users from there.

You Need To Update Your Privacy Settings

Still asking, “Why Can’t I Follow People on TikTok?” It might be due to your privacy settings. If your TikTok account has privacy restrictions, it may prevent you from following others. Go to your settings and check if your privacy preferences allow you to follow others. If restrictions are in place, adjust them to regain the ability to follow people.

Can’t Follow People Back on TikTok

Can’t follow people back on TikTok? Here’s why. If TikTok won’t let you follow someone back, there are a few possible reasons:

- Private accounts require approval – if the user has a private account, they must accept your follow request first. This is the default setting for users aged 13-15.
- You may be blocked – If someone has blocked you, you won’t be able to follow them, interact with their content, or send messages.
- Privacy settings may restrict access – Even if an account is public, certain privacy settings can limit your ability to view or engage with their content.

You can still search for their profile, but depending on their settings, you may have limited access to their videos and interactions.

Managing Followers on a Public Account

If your account is public, you have more control over your followers. To block unwanted followers:

From their profile: go to their profile, tap the three dots, and select Block.
From your video comments section: tap their comment, select their profile, and block them from there.

Removing Followers

If you want to remove a follower without blocking them, follow these steps:

Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile.
Tap on your Followers List to view all your followers.
Locate the user you want to remove.
Tap Remove next to their name to delete them from your followers.

The user won’t be notified that you’ve removed them, but they will no longer see your private content or receive updates from your account. If your account is public, they can still view your posts unless they manually unfollow you or you switch to a private account.

Should You Follow Your Followers?

Following your followers is a personal choice. Some users prefer to follow back to build a community, while others keep their following list selective. If engagement matters to you, consider following active and interactive followers. Want to enhance engagement? You can also buy TikTok views and buy TikTok likes to boost your content’s visibility.

Final Thoughts

TikTok’s follow restrictions can be frustrating, but they exist to maintain platform integrity and prevent spam-like behavior. If you’re unable to follow people, it’s important to determine whether you’ve hit a follow limit, encountered an app glitch, or need to adjust your settings. By following these troubleshooting steps, you can ensure a smoother TikTok experience and continue growing your network on the platform.

To avoid disruptions, follow best practices such as spacing out your follows, keeping your app updated, and ensuring a stable internet connection. If you’ve reached your follow limit, take the opportunity to refine your following list and engage with accounts that align with your interests.

FAQs About TikTok Follow Limit 2025

Why can’t I follow anyone on TikTok?

If you’re unable to follow anyone on TikTok, the most common reasons could be: a temporary restriction due to excessive following, hitting the follow limit, app glitches, or privacy settings.

What TikTok won’t let you follow people with your new account?

It could be a shadowban if TikTok detects mass following as suspicious. Avoid rapid actions, engage naturally, verify your account, and wait a few hours before retrying. If it persists, check TikTok’s guidelines or contact support.

What is the TikTok follow limit 2025?

As of 2025, TikTok’s follow limit remains 10,000 accounts overall. The daily safe limit is estimated to be around 140-200 accounts.

How Long Do You Have to Wait to Follow People on TikTok?

If you hit TikTok’s follow limit, you’ll need to wait about an hour before following more accounts. The daily cap is around 200 follows, so pace yourself to avoid restrictions.

Why Does TikTok Say “You’re Tapping Too Fast, Take a Break”?

This error appears when you engage too quickly, like liking or following too fast. TikTok flags this as spam-like behavior. Take a short break, watch some videos, and try again later.

Why does TikTok automatically unfollow people I follow?

If TikTok unfollows users after you follow them, it could be due to app glitches, hitting follow limits, or possible shadowbans.

Why can’t I follow someone on TikTok due to privacy settings?

If a user has strict privacy settings, they may not allow you to follow them. Additionally, your account settings may restrict your ability to follow others.